Electrically heated hair curling apparatus



Nov. 12, 1968 G. GIACCHERO 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 12, 1968 e. GIACCHEROELECTRICALLY HEATED HAIR CURLING APPARATUS -led April 12, 196

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,410,985 ELECTRICALLY HEATED HAIRCURLING APPARATUS Giovanni Giacchero, Turin, Italy, assignor, bymesneassignments, to Penelope S.p.A., Turin, Italy Filed Apr. 12, 1966,Ser. No. 542,151 Claims priority, application Italy, Jan. 10, 1966,787/66 Claims. (Cl. 219222) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hair curlerheater has a thermostatically controlled electrically heated supportplate provided with upstanding short projections each of whichcooperates with a complementary depression in the bottom of a plasticcoated hair curler. The curlers are filled with a heat storing substanceand have a central core of high heat conductivity material. A heatinsulating diaphragm is spaced above the projections and has holes sothat curlers may rest on the projections. A transparent cover isprovided over the plate. The cover controls an electric heater switchand signal lamps are provided to indicate operation.

This invention relates to hair curler heaters.

British patent specification No. 499,904 of 1936 discloses a hair curlerheater comprising a plurality of rods adapted to transmit heat, on whichthe hair curlers are slipped and heated from the inside. The rods extendat right angles beyond a hollow or solid conductive support to whichheat is supplied.

British patent specification No. 419,043 of 1934 discloses heating haircurlers from the inside by placing them on electrically heated rodswhich are in contact with a metallic inner liner of the hair curler.According to this specification the liner is hollow and filled with aheat retaining substance.

British patent specification No. 581,101 of 1944 discloses slipping haircurlers for heating on rods carried by a plate incorporating a heatingresistor controlled by a thermostat.

Known apparatus for heating hair curlers are expensive in construction,require special attention in use and are not exempt from danger to theuser.

In order to obviate the above drawbacks this invention provides anapparatus for heating hair curlers, of the type comprising aplate-shaped conductive support to which heat is supplied and aplurality of heat conductive elements extending at right angles to thesaid support, each adapted to reach into a hair curler for transmittingheat thereto, wherein the heat conductive elements exend in height fromthe support a distance equalling a small fraction of the height of thehair curlers. Each hair curler comprises a metallic casing having abottom portion shaped to interfit with one of the heat conductiveelements, and a coating on the outer surface of the easing leaves thebottom portion exposed. The apparatus is also provided with a heatinsulating partition superposed in a parallel relationship to theplate-shaped conductive support from which it is spaced a distancesubstantially exceeding the height of the heat conducting elements, thepartition having openings coaxial with the heat conductive elements, theopenings being of a size such as to allow the hair curlers to extendtherethrough.

The invention shall be described hereafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings which are given by way of a non-limiting exampleand show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for heating hair curlersaccording to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detailed view of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are two enlarged sectional views showing two differentembodiments of the base plate.

A casing 1 molded of insulating plastic material rests on studs 7 andhas a rear wall 2 and two side walls 3 decreasing in height towards afront wall. The rear wall 2 of the casing 1 has a transparent cover 4articulated thereto by a hinge 5 which incorporates a microswitch 6.

The casing 1 encloses a heat conductive support comprising a metal plate8 incorporating a heating resistor 9 connectable to an electric powersource and controlled by a thermostat 10 adapted to cut off the supplyof current, as a predetermined temperature is reached. The microswitch 6is placed in series in the supply circuit for the resistor 8 and isconnected to the hinge 5 for the cover plate to allow electric currentto flow to the heating plate 9 only when the cover plate is fully open,as shown in dash lines in FIGURE 2, and to cut off the supply circuit onclosure of the cover plate. The heating plate 8 is provided on its topface with heat conductive elements in the form of conductor elements orprojections 11 engaging hair curlers 13. The heat conductive projections11 have their top portion of frusto-conical shape 12, see FIG. 3, forassisting in centering and retaining the hair curlers. The elements 11extend in height beyond the plate 8 by an extent equalling a smallfraction of the height of the hair curlers 13.

The height of the elements 11 conveniently ranges be tween and of theheight of the hair curlers 13.

Each hair curler 13 includes a metal casing 14, having a bottom 15 whichis formed with a frusto-conical recess 16 for interfitting with thefrusto-conical ends 12 of each projection 11. An inner hollow space 18in the metal casing 14 contains a heat storing substance 10, such aswater or a water-wax mixture. A core 17 of a material of high heatconductivity may be positioned in the central portion of the casing 14and extends axially upwardly within the casing from its bottom 15. Thecore generally may comprise a copper cylinder welded to the middle ofthe bottom 15.

The outer surface of the metal casing 14 is provided with a coating 20of plastic, such as polyamide resin, provided .at the middle of thebottom 15 with an opening 21 to allow the bottom 15 to directly contactand fit on one of the heat conductive elements 11 on the heating plate8. By eflect of the interfit of the members 11 and 15 heat is rapidlytransmitted from the plate 8 heated by the resistor 9 to the metalcasing 14 and heat storing substance 19 which subsequently slowlytransmits it through the casing 14 to the coating of plasic on which thehair to be curled is wound in a known manner, thereby affording long andefficient use of the curler. The copper cylinder 17 acceleratestransmission of heat to the heat storing substance 19; however, thecylinder 17 is not essential, for it was found, in actual use that asatisfactory transmission of heat already results from the interfit ofthe members 11, 15.

A heat insulating diaphragm 22 is arranged over the heating plate 8 at asubstantially higher level than the conductive elements 11 and is formedwith a plurality of through holes 23 coaxial with the elements 11through which the hair curlers extend. This avoids any direct contact ofthe users hands with the hot surfaces of the plate 8 and elements 11,preventing scorching. The diaphragm 22 is provided on its forward edgewith an inclined portion 24 having arranged thereon two indicating lamplights 25, 26, the lamp 25 indicating that the electric resistor isenergized and the apparatus is operating, the lamp 26 being connectedwith the thermostat 1 and providing an intermittent light signal whenthe thermostat has cut-off the electric circuit of the resistor 9 as thepredetermined temperature for heating the hair curlers is reached. Theelements 11 extending from the heating plate 8 can be formed in variousmanners. In FIGURE 4 a projecting element 11a is obtained by punchingthe plate 8. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE an element 11b is made asa separate part having a mushroom shaped head 27 and a cylindrical stem28 be secured to the plate 8.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for heating hair curlers of the type having a conductiveplate-shaped supoprt with an electric heating element and a plurality ofheat conductive elements extending at right angles from the support eachadapted to extend into a hair curler for transmitting heat thereto, theinventive improvements wherein the heat conductive elements project fromthe support by an extent amounting to a minor portion of the length ofthe hair curlers, each hair curler comprising :a metal casing having abottom portion shaped to interfit with one of the heat conductiveelements, and having a heat insulating plastic coating on the outersurface of the casing except the shaped bottom portion, and a heatinsulating diaphragm in a parallel spaced relationship to the conductiveplate-shaped support, the diaphragm being spaced from the conductiveplate-shaped support a distance exceeding the height of the conductiveelements but substantially less than the length of the hair curlers, thediaphragm including openings coaxial with the said conductive elements,the openings being of a suitable size for the hair curlers to extendtherethrough.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a heat storing substancefills at least part of the metal casing of the hair curler.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a heat conducting centralcore fixed to the bottom of the metal casing of the curler extendsinwardly along a major portion of the length of the casing.

4. Apparatus for heating hair curlers of the type having a conductiveplate-shaped support with an electric heating element and a plurality ofheat conductive elements extending at right angles from the support eachadapted to extend into a hair curler for transmitting heat thereto, theinventive improvements wherein the heat conductive elements project fromthe support by an extent amounting to a minor portion of the length ofthe hair curlers, each hair curler comprising a metal casing having abottom portion shaped to interfit with one of the heat conductiveelements, and having a heat insulating plastic coating on the outersurface of the casing except the shaped bottom portion, and .a heatinsulating diaphragm in a parallel spaced relationship to the conductiveplate-shaped sup port, the diaphragm being spaced from the conductiveplate-shaped support a distance substantially less than the length ofthe hair curlers, the diaphragm including openings coaxial with the saidconductive elements, the openings being of a suitable size for the haircurlers to extend therethrough an insulating casing enclosing theconductive plate-shaped support, the casing having a transparent coverhinged thereto, a switch actuated by the hinge and connected in anelectric circuit to cut off electric current supply to the electricheater of the plate-like support when the cover is closed and passcurrent when the cover is open.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a firstindicating light adapted to indicate operation of the electric heatingelement, and a second indicating light operating intermittently toindicate disconnection of the current supply due to the action of athermostat in heat exchange relationship to the plate-shaped conductivesupport and connected in an electric circuit to the heating element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,573 10/1938 Rifle 13236 X2,152,261 3/1939 Kahn 219-452 X 2,165,552 7/1939 Johnson 2192422,380,154 7/ 1945 Dickerson 2,541,639 2/1951 Cook 219-506- X 2,584,9992/1952 Flournoy 13237 3,038,986 6/1962 Molitor 219--387 3,103,934 9/1963Sabourin 132-33 3,228,403 1/ 1966 Pasternack.

3,257,541 6/1966 Jorgensen 2,19222 ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner.

